C. J. McCollum Quotes

I've always been an underdog. I feel like I beat the odds.

I've been the underdog my whole career.

I'm kind of a grinder. I'm a Cinderella, an underdog story who fights.

Going in, I knew I wasn't one of the top ones, because I didn't even make the pre-season All-American team. That shows you what people thought of me right there, so I knew I had to go to work.

I want to be an example of a guy who made something of himself out of nothing. A guy who overcame the odds of a tough childhood, who worked hard, who didn't let his surroundings get the best of him and lead him to jail or the graveyard. Where I ended up - being a comedian, a TV star, and a movie actor - might be unique, but my story is not.

I've been an underdog all my life.

I was the kid that was the 199th pick that never had the body for it. People didn't think I'd play one year in the NFL, and now I'm going on my 17th year.

My whole career's been an underdog's.

I've faced the undefeated, young up-and-comers, everybody counting me out before, on a big card, with big lights, TV.

That's when you know you're the greatest: when you're the greatest, and people still put odds against you.

I could have gone to a bigger school. I use it as motivation going to a school that loved me. I wanted to put them on the map and show everyone that you don't need to go to a top school to make it in the NBA.

To be underestimated is my biggest motivation.

Most of the stuff that I do talk about, about being counted out and being an underdog, 'cause that's what I feel like I am.

All my life people have said that I wasn't going to make it.

I struggled to get through high school. I didn't get to go to college. But it made me realize you can do anything if you want to bad enough.

When I graduated from Parsons School of Design, the dean at that time said I would never be a designer. Obviously I didn't listen.

In spite of my lack of education, I didn't lack direction.

I've had to fight to improve my life. Nothing has come easily.

I lived below the poverty line when I was young and starting out as a writer. But my wife and I kept trying to do things better, as anyone with ambition does. But just because you're trying doesn't mean you're always going to succeed.

There's a lot of guys out there that can play at this level, and sometimes they might be discouraged because they come from a small school or a tough situation.

A lot of people underestimated me, and I'm used to that.

I want a kid to look at me and say, 'You know what, this man had no chance in life, but he stayed in there, and he worked hard. He dedicated himself, and he did it'.

I like being the underdog. I like turning around and shutting people up when they tell me I can't.

I've been a guy that everyone has counted out over the years as an undersized four-man. I've always been doubted.

I didn't corner the market on great stories. I'm not the only one who can do something like work at a grocery store and then win a Super Bowl. Other people can do it. You hope people will see that and say, 'Hey, that will be me.' They're going to chase after it like I did. And they're going to be the next one.